Dead or Alive 6
By David Chapman,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Best yet in racy, violent martial arts fighter series.
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Dead or Alive 6
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Based on 2 parent reviews
Could be better....
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Very disappointing!
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What’s It About?
Fighters of the world come together once again, as a brand-new Dead or Alive tournament marks a new beginning for the DOATEC conglomerate ... just as DEAD OR ALIVE 6 marks a fresh new start for the hit fighting game franchise. Dead or Alive 6 brings together a massive roster of 26 fighters from all corners of the globe, battling it out in fierce, fast-paced martial arts combat. Some fight for fame and fortune. Some fight for revenge. Some fight to save the world. And some fight to destroy it. All, though, fight to win. Follow their adventures and discover their secrets in the game's epic Story mode, or take your favorite fighters through battle simulator missions in Quest mode for various extra rewards. Then, take on friends in local play or prove your mettle against all comers from around the world in ranked online play. No matter how you play, it'll take all your skills and training to defeat your foes and earn your title as Dead or Alive Champion.
Is It Any Good?
This popular, provocative fighting franchise has added many new tricks and expanded features to make it the best entry yet in the series, and a fresh new start for the series as a whole. Dead or Alive 6 starts with a whopping 26-strong roster of fighters, each with their own unique personalities and fighting styles. While each fighter feels different from the next, the game's basic mechanics make the combat instantly accessible, regardless of your skill level. But the game still relies heavily on timing and countering to excel, keeping skill a major factor for victory. The new "Break Gauge" feature adds a new layer of special moves and abilities to the classic DoA formula as well, giving even longtime fans a few new tricks to play with.
Dead or Alive has always been known for its polished visuals, and Dead or Alive 6 is no exception. All of the characters, movements, and environmental effects are sharp and detailed. Blood, bruises, ripped clothes, and other damage effects shown are a constant reminder that fighters rarely leave a match unscathed. The game even takes a cue from the latest Mortal Kombat games by occasionally entering slow motion and zooming in tight on particularly brutal hits. These more intense moments of violence can be turned off via an option in the game's settings. One thing that can't be turned off, though, is the more provocative content that's always been a signature of the series. Female characters constantly show up in revealing outfits, making sly comments laced with innuendo, and moving in ways that emphasize their bodies (including the series' infamous "jiggle"). While this aspect may not be as prevalent as in past games, the free camera feature allows players to pause the action to zoom in or out and view the characters from any angle. While this can be a little distracting at times, it doesn't take anything away from the pure adrenaline-fueled fun the game provides. Once again, Dead or Alive 6 proves itself as a top contender in the fighting game genre as one of the best-looking and more user-friendly fighters on the market today.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in video games. Is the impact of the violence in Dead or Alive 6 affected by the nature of combat in the game? Can the violence in fighting games affect the behavior of younger kids? How can parents make sure kids don't try to re-create what they see on-screen? Does it help when parents are given control of the amount of detail (blood, injury, etc.) shown in violent games?
What are some of the positive and negative ways that women are portrayed in video games? Are these characters portrayed as strong role models or are they objectified as glorified "eye candy"? Where does the line fall between the two?
Game Details
- Platforms: PlayStation 4 , Windows , Xbox One
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Available online?: Not available online
- Publisher: Koei Tecmo
- Release date: March 1, 2019
- Genre: Fighting
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Sports and Martial Arts
- ESRB rating: M for Blood, Language, Sexual Themes, Violence
- Last updated: February 22, 2019
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